Utilizing an image of a valve assembly to identify the valve assembly found on a process line

ABSTRACT

A system and method for conveying an identity of a valve assembly found on a process line. The method can configure the system for receiving a first image of a subject valve assembly at a first computing device. The method can also configure the system for using the first image, selecting an entry in an asset database, the entry associating valve identifying data that relates to the subject valve assembly with a second image of the subject valve assembly that is stored in the asset database, the valve identifying data configured to define an identity for the subject valve assembly. The method can further configure the system for retrieving data from the selected entry and for generating an output for display on a second computing device, wherein the output is configured to convey the valve identifying data that relates to the subject valve assembly in the first image.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to industrial processtechnology with particular discussion about systems and methods toidentify assets on a process line using images of the assets in lieu ofasset tags and/or other identifiers physically attached to the assets.

Industrial processes typically involve chemical, physical, electrical,and mechanical stages to manufacture items. The stages may utilize oneor more process lines with devices that control certain aspects of theprocess. For process lines that carry fluids and/or transitorymaterials, the devices can embody flow controls that regulate a flow ofthe material.

A common type of flow control is a valve assembly or “control valve.”This valve assembly can include an electrical or pneumatic actuator thatcouples with a closure member (via a stem). The closure member mayembody a plug, a ball, a butterfly valve, and/or like implement that cancontact the seat to prevent flow. In pneumatic configurations, the valveassembly can include a control device, also called a valve positioner,which can regulate a flow of instrument gas into the actuator. Theinstrument gas can pressurize (and de-pressurize) the actuator in orderto locate the closure member in position relative to the seat. Duringoperation, the valve positioner can receive and process a control signalfrom a controller that is part of a process control system (also“distributed control system” or “DCS system”). The control signal candefine operating parameters for the valve assembly in accordance with anappropriate flow of fluid from the valve assembly and into the processline. The valve positioner can use these operating parameters and theoutput from the position sensor to set the position desired for theclosure member.

Installations in heavy industries like chemical manufacturing andresource recovery and refining are typically built to very large scale.These installations may use hundreds and even thousands of valveassemblies. In such installations, it is often necessary to periodicallyperform tasks to verify operation of the valve assemblies or, in worstcases, to remediate problems that result from errors and/or failures ofa particular valve assembly or group of valve assemblies.

These tasks typically require personnel to find and identify valveassemblies on the process line. To facilitate identification, each valveassembly can include identifying information, typically an identifier or“asset tag” (like a metal plate) that attaches to the valve assembly.This identifier typically has human readable information (e.g., text)and machine readable information (e.g., bar codes) that distinguishesthe valve assembly from the others. In practice, personnel may carryhardware (e.g., a scanner) that can read the machine readableinformation on the identifier. This practice can extract informationstored in the identifier. Often, the information corresponds toinformation found on a construction diagram (also known as a “piping andinstallation diagram” or “P&ID diagram”) that defines the layout of theprocess lines. Use of this hardware and these diagrams can guidepersonnel to the appropriate locations to find the valve assembly ofinterest and confirm that the valve assembly is the correct device onwhich to perform maintenance.

Nonetheless, this process does not ensure that the identified valveassembly can carry the correct asset tag or other identifying feature.In order to use asset tags, for example, personnel may physically securethe asset tags (alone, or in combination with another identifier,) tothe valve assembly at the time of inventory, maintenance, andcommissioning of the valve assembly on the process line. This processcan introduce human error. It is possible, for example, for an asset tagto be mistakenly secured to the wrong valve assembly. In heavyindustries, such errors can waste personnel time and effort, and canincrease labor costs, because the shear size and scale of theinstallations can frustrate efforts to find and identify individualvalve assemblies.

Moreover, it is common for the valve assembly to be located in areasthat frustrate access for personnel to perform any visual recognition.These areas may require the personnel to climb, crawl, or otherwisephysically scale obstacles to get into proximity of the subject valveassembly. When the process line and/or installation, generally, runsprocesses at extremely high temperatures or using caustic and dangerousmaterials, the requirement for physical proximity can place thepersonnel in danger.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method for conveying an identity of a valveassembly on a process line, said method including receiving a firstimage of a subject valve assembly at a first computing device; using thefirst image, selecting an entry in an asset database, the entryassociating valve identifying data that relates to the subject valveassembly, the valve identifying data configured to define an identityfor the subject valve assembly; retrieving data from the selected entry;and generating an output for display on a second computing device,wherein the output is configured to convey the valve identifying datathat relates to the subject valve assembly in the first image.

The method may further include comparing the first image with a secondimage that is stored in the asset database, wherein the entry associatesthe valve identifying data with the second image of the subject valveassembly

The method may further include wherein the selected entry reflects amatch that relates content in the first image with content in the secondimage.

The method may further include identifying a first feature of interestand a second feature of interest, one each defining a first subset ofthe content in the first image and a second subset of content in thesecond image, respectively; and comparing the first feature of interestand the second feature of interest, wherein the match relates the firstsubset of the content of the first feature of interest with the secondsubset of the content of the second feature of interest.

The method may further include wherein each of the first subset of thecontent of the first feature of interest and the second subset of thecontent of the second feature of interest comprises background structureproximate the subject valve assembly in the first image and the secondimage.

The method may further include comparing first metadata describing thefirst subset of content of the first feature of interest to secondmetadata in the asset database describing the second subset of contentof the second feature of interest, wherein the match relates the firstmetadata with the second metadata.

The method may further include extracting first image data from a datapackage, the first image data defining the content of the first image,wherein the data package includes the first image data and device datathat identifies a location for the subject valve assembly.

The method may further include comparing the first image data to secondimage data defining the content of the second image in the assetdatabase.

The method may further include determining the match; creating a newentry in the asset database in response to an absence of the match, thenew entry corresponding to the subject valve assembly of the firstimage; and writing data into the database at the new entry, the dataincluding the first image data and one or more pieces of device data asthe valve identifying data.

The method may further include wherein the identity distinguishes thesubject valve assembly from another valve assembly on a process line.

The method may further include wherein the output comprises diagnosticdata that relates to operation of the device.

In another embodiment a system including a first computing deviceincluding a processor with access to memory having first executableinstructions stored thereon, the first executable instructions includingone or more instructions for, receiving a first image of a subject valveassembly; comparing the first image to a second image of the subjectvalve assembly that is stored in an asset database, the entryassociating the second image of the subject valve assembly to valveidentifying data that relates to the subject valve assembly andconfigured to define an identity for the subject valve assembly;selecting an entry in the asset database, the selected entry reflectinga match that relates content in the first image with content in thesecond image; retrieving the valve identifying data from the selectedentry; and generating a first output including the valve identifyingdata for display.

The system may further include a second computing device including aprocessor with access to memory having second executable instructionsstored thereon, the second executable instructions including one or moreinstructions for, configuring a display in response to the first output,the display configured to display the identity of the subject valveassembly.

The system may further include wherein the second executableinstructions comprise one or more instruction for, generating a firstuser interface that configures the display on the second computingdevice to capture the first image; generating a second user interfacethat configures the display on the second computing device to receivedevice data that relates to the subject valve assembly; and generating asecond output that includes data that relates to the first image fortransmission over a network for use on the first computing device.

The system may further include wherein the second executableinstructions comprise one or more instructions for, generating a thirduser interface on the display that conveys the valve identifying data.

The system may further include wherein the third user interface isconfigured to display diagnostic data that relates to operation of thedevice.

The system may further include wherein the second executableinstructions including one or more instructions for, determining thematch; creating a new entry in the asset database in response to anabsence of the match, the new entry corresponding to the subject valveassembly of the first image; and writing data into the asset database atthe new entry, the data including the first image data and one or morepieces of device data as the valve identifying data

In yet another embodiment, a database system for identifying valveassemblies on a process line, said database system including a firstdata structure including one or more entries, each of the one or moreentries including a previously-acquired image of a subject valveassembly and valve identifying data that is configured to define anidentity for the subject valve assembly.

The database system may further include wherein each of the one or moreentries comprise metadata that defines content of thepreviously-acquired image.

The database system may further include wherein the metadata defines asubset of content of the previously-acquired image.

The database system may further include wherein the subset of thecontent of the previously-acquired image comprises background structureproximate the subject valve assembly in the previously-acquired image.

The embodiments contemplated herein may be configured to offer at leastcertain capabilities. These capabilities enable data transfer across anetwork. This data can help identify a subject valve assembly that isfound in an image. The capabilities also enable data population into adatabase with entries that include a previously-acquired image of thesubject valve assembly and certain device identifying data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made briefly to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of asystem that can convey information to an end user that identifies asubject valve assembly using an image of the valve assembly in lieu ofan asset tag or like identifier;

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic diagram of an example of an image for use inthe system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of method toconvey device identifying data to the end user using an image of asubject valve assembly;

FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of method toobtain, package, and transmit an image of a valve assembly over anetwork for use to identify the valve assembly;

FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of method toprocess a data package to obtain relevant device identifying data thatcorresponds with a subject valve assembly and, where necessary, topopulate an entry in a database with the device identifying data;

FIG. 6 depicts a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of method todisplay data about a subject valve assembly on a display of a computingdevice;

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of an example of a valve assembly; and

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of thesystem of FIG. 1 as part of a process control system.

Where applicable like reference characters designate identical orcorresponding components and units throughout the several views, whichare not to scale unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the embodimentsdisclosed herein may include elements that appear in one or more of theseveral views or in combinations of the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can provide techniques thateliminate the need to use asset tags to identify devices on a processline and/or at an installation. At least some of the embodiments below,for example, can use an image (e.g., a digital image) of a valveassembly taken by an end user in the field (e.g., on a smartphone) toformulate an identity for the device and to transmit data that relatesto the identity to the end user. In this way, the embodiments can forgouse of the asset tag in lieu of other features pertinent to the valveassembly that is the subject of identification. Other embodiments arewithin the scope of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system 100 that can conveyinformation to allow an end user to identify a valve assembly without anasset tag or like identifier. The system 100 can be deployed across oneor more installations. Often, the system 100 can integrate with existingdata management systems that cooperate with the DCS system. These datamanagement systems, for example, may be in place to perform diagnosticson the process devices that are on site at the installation.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary system 100 includes a first computingdevice 102 (also “server 102”) and a second computing device 104 (also,“an image capture terminal 104” or “terminal 104”) that can generate animage 106. The devices 102, 104 can communicate with one another over anetwork 108 using conventional wired and/or wireless protocols. On theleft side of the diagram, the image capture terminal 104 is shown inproximity to a process line 110 with one or more valve assemblies (e.g.,a first valve assembly 112, a second valve assembly 114, and a thirdvalve assembly 116). The position of the image capture terminal 104 isconsistent with transport by the end user (e.g., maintenance personnel)within a factory, plant, or similar installation. On the right side ofthe diagram, the server 102 includes a database system with an assetdatabase 118 that comprises data and information (also, “valveidentifying data,”) relevant to the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116. Theasset database 118 can have a data structure that includes one or moreentries (e.g., a first entry 120, a second entry 122, and a third entry124) that arrange the valve identifying data to correspond withparticular devices and like assets found on the process line 110. Eachentry 120, 122, 124 can associate a previously-acquired image 126 withvalve identifying data (e.g., first identifying data 128 and secondidentifying data 130). The valve identifying data 128, 130 areconfigured to define an identity for the valve assembly in the image106. In context of the present example, the entries 120, 122, 124correspond with the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116 on the process line118. More general implementations will populate the entries in the assetdatabase 118 with information about devices and assets across one ormore process lines or installations, or also under control, operation,or ownership of the plant owner and/or operator.

The system 100 can be configured to convey data that relates to thevalve assemblies 112, 114, 116 between the server 102 and the terminal104. For each valve assembly 112, 114, 116, the system 100 can populatean entry in the asset database 118. This feature can be useful toinventory each of the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116 either at initialinstallation of the process line 108 or as commissioned for usethereafter. Once the valve assembly 112, 114, 116 is populated into theasset database 118, the system 100 can provide information to the enduser that identifies the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116 in the field.However, the system 100 uses the image 106 of the subject valveassembly, rather than asset tags and like identifiers that are securedor found thereon. This feature is beneficial because it can eliminatepotential errors in identification should the subject valve assembly bemis-identified or mis-labeled with the wrong the asset tag. Theembodiments disclosed herein can also foreclose the need for an end userto be in close proximity to the subject valve assembly, but rathermerely can rely on appropriate line-of-sight for the terminal 104 tocapture the image 106 of the subject valve assembly.

The valve identifying data can include an assortment of data that isuseful to ascribe the identity for the corresponding valve assembly 112,114, 116 of the entry 120, 122, 124. For example, the identifying data128, 130 can embody data and information that is useful to distinguishone valve assembly from another valve assembly. Such data may includechronology data (e.g., date/time stamps, data of commissioning, data ofinstallation, etc.), manufacturing data (e.g., manufacturer name,manufacturer serial number(s), manufacturer location(s), etc.),installation data (e.g., location and/or GPS coordinates, processinformation, etc.). The visual representation 126 is preferably animage, image file, or image data associated therewith of thecorresponding valve assembly 110, 112, 114 (also “a previously-acquiredimage 126”). In one implementation, the identifying data 128, 130 mayalso include metadata that is associated with the previously-acquiredimage 126. This metadata may describe certain features found in thepreviously-acquired image 126 that are useful to match the image 106with the previously-acquired image 126. During operation of the system100, the server 102 may be configured to identify and/or define metadatafor certain features in the image 106 and compare this metadata to themetadata in the asset database 118 to select the appropriate entry 120,122, 124.

FIG. 2 illustrates, schematically, an example of the images 106, 126.This example has a field of view 132 with an image capture area 134 thatdefines the extent of structure shown in the image 106, 126. Thisstructure may include a subject valve assembly 136 and backgroundstructure 138 that includes parts of the process line 108 and otheritems that are disposed in proximity to the subject valve assembly 136at the time the end user captures the image 106, 126. As also shown inFIG. 2, the image capture area 134 includes a first image capture area140 and a second image capture area 142 delineated from one another by aboundary 144. The image capture area 134 also has a feature of interest146, which is shown in the second image capture area 142 of the image106, 126. The feature of interest 146 defines a subset of the content inthe image 106. In one implementation, metadata may be used and/orassigned to define the subset of content, as desired. The first imagecapture area 140 includes structure of the subject valve assembly 136 ascircumscribed by the boundary 144. The second image capture area 142includes the background structure 138 that lends context to helpformulate the identity of the subject valve assembly 136 as relates tothe identity of the valve assembly 112, 114, 116 as noted in the presentdisclosure.

The background structure 138 can include elements that are consistentwith (or in proximity of) the location of the subject valve assembly 136on the process line 108. These elements may comprise parts of theprocess line 108. In one implementation, the elements of the backgroundstructure 138 can include signage, equipment, and other physical membersfound at the location and that can fit into the field of view 132 of theimage 106, 126. The background structure 138 in the images 106, 126 maybe helpful because the structure of the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116is often identical or similar and, thus, is unlikely to provide anyreasonable basis for distinguishing between the valve assemblies 112,114, 116. On the other hand, the background structure 138 can provideadditional context within the images 106, 126 for purposes ofidentifying the subject valve assembly 136 in lieu of any asset tagsand/or other physical identifiers found, if at all, on the subject valveassembly 136.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 disclose various exemplary methods to, for example,configure and/or implement the system 100 to populate the asset database118 and to exchange data about the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116 usingthe images 106, 126. The embodiments enable one or more of the server102 and the terminal 104 to process and to exchange data with oneanother. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method that configures thesystem 100 to render the identity of the subject valve assembly 136.This method avoids physical or human intervention to recognize andidentify the subject valve assembly 136. FIGS. 4 and 5 depict exemplarymethods that configure the system 100 to capture the image of thesubject valve assembly 136 and, where necessary, to populate an entry inthe asset database 118 with information about the subject valve assembly136. FIG. 6 depicts a method to display data consistent with theidentity on the terminal 104.

The methods shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are exemplary only and notlimiting. For example, the methods may be altered by, for example,having stages added, removed, or rearranged.

With reference also to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagramof a method 200 to convey valve identifying data for display on theterminal 104. The valve identifying data may provide the identity, e.g.,by serial number, or can help the end user to formulate the identity ofthe subject valve assembly 136. When implemented as part of the system100 (FIG. 1), the stages of the method 200 may be implemented as firstexecutable instructions that configure the server 102 to perform certainprocesses to facilitate these functions.

The method 200 can include, at stage 202, receiving a first image 106 ofthe subject valve assembly 136 at a first computing device 102 and, atstage 204, using the first image 106, selecting an entry in an assetdatabase 118, the entry associating valve identifying data that relatesto the subject valve assembly 136 with a second image 126 of the subjectvalve assembly 136 that is stored in the asset database 118. In oneexample, the valve identifying data is configured to define an identityfor the subject valve assembly 136. The method 200 can also include atstage 206, retrieving data from the selected entry, and, at stage 208,generating an output for display on a second computing device 104 atstage 208. The output can be configured to describe the identity of thesubject valve assembly 136 in the first image 106.

At stage 202, the server 102 can receive the first image 106 from theterminal 104. Examples of the terminal 104 can embody portable devicesthat are configured to capture and transmit a digital image (also“digital representation”). These devices can include smartphones andtablets, although appropriately equipped cameras and computing devices(e.g., laptops, desktops, etc.) may also provide suitable functionality.In use, the end user can position the terminal 104 to capture at leastpart, if not all, of the valve assembly 112, 114, 116 that is thesubject of identification (i.e., the subject valve assembly 136). Theposition of the terminal 104 may, for example, locate the terminal 104in front or at least in relative proximity to the subject valve assembly136. However, as noted above, such position is restricted only byoperating functions (e.g., focus) that might limit the ability of theterminal 104 to capture the image 106.

At stage 204, the server 102 can use the image 106 and thepreviously-acquired image 126 to select an entry from the asset database118. The selected entry can provide data that is useful to identify thesubject valve assembly 136. In one embodiment, the method 200 mayinclude stages for comparing the images 106, 126, wherein the selectedentry reflects a match that relates content in the first image 106 withcontent in the second image 126. A failure to find the match may promptthe server 102 to add a new entry into the asset database 118, as notedfurther below in connection with FIG. 5.

The method 200 may include stages for processing one or more of theimages 106, 126 to identify content and/or feature(s) of interest 144that are useful to establish the match. These stages may use computervision technology to process and/or examine the content of the images106, 126 to identify the feature(s) of interest 144. The method 200 maythen leverage the output of the computer vision technology to identifythe selected entry in accordance with the concepts herein.

In one implementation, the method 200 may include stages for identifyinga first feature of interest and a second feature of interest, one eachdefining a first subset of the content in the first image 106 and asecond subset of the content in the second image 126, respectively. Themethod 200 may also include stages for comparing the first feature ofinterest and the second feature of interest, wherein the match relatesthe first subset with the second subset. As noted above, in certaincases, the first subset and the second subset may comprise backgroundstructure 138 proximate the subject valve assembly 136.

The stages of the method 200 may also include stages for assigningmetadata describing the content and/or feature(s) of interest 144 of oneor both of the image 106 and the previously-acquired image 126. Thesestages may result in first metadata describing the first subset ofcontent in the first image 106 and second metadata describing the secondsubset of content in the second image 126. In use, the second metadatamay be previously-stored in the asset database 118. This feature mayfacilitate more efficient operation of the processes by avoidingrepetitive processing of the previously-acquired image 126 in itsentirety each time the image 106 is received for identification. In oneimplementation, the method 200 may include stages for comparing thefirst metadata with the second metadata in the asset database 118,wherein the match relates the first metadata with the second metadata.

The stages of the method 200 may further include stages for extractingimage data from a data package. The image data can define the content ofthe image 106, 126 as discuss herein and, particularly, in connectionwith FIG. 2 above. Examples of the data package may be received from theterminal 104, preferably in a data format that facilitates transfer ofdata over the network 108. The data package can include first image dataand device data that, in one example, identify a location for thesubject valve assembly 136. The method 200 may also include stages forcomparing the first image data to the second image data in the assetdatabase 118 as at least one way to identify the match.

At stage 206, the server 102 can retrieve data from the selected entry(the “retrieved data”). This retrieved data may represent all or asubset of the valve identifying data 128, 130 that is stored in thedatabase 118. The method 200 may include stages for selecting one ormore pieces of the valve identifying data 128, 130 based on, forexample, certain operating instructions received from the terminal 104.In one implementation, the retrieved data may also include diagnosticdata that defines historical and/or contemporaneous operation of thesubject valve assembly 136. This diagnostic data can include performanceindicators, e.g., friction, spring range, lag, stick-slip, and likeparameters that can, in one example, be mathematically calculated fromthe operating variables discussed herein.

At stage 208, the server 102 can generate the output and/or data packagewith data for display on the terminal 104. This data package can beformatted to allow the retrieved data to transmit over the network 108.In this respect, the disclosed subject matter contemplates that thesystem 100 may utilize a client-server model to facilitate data exchangebetween the server 102 and the terminal 104. This client-server modelmay, for example, employ a web browser and a web server to generate auser interface on the terminal 104. The server 102 can operate as theweb server, wherein the output is configured as one or more Web pages(or like displayable content) one the web browser. In oneimplementation, the method 200 can include one or more stages forformatting the output. An example of such formatting can uselanguage-independent specifications like JavaScript Object Notation(JSON) format, which can simplify the exchange of data in connectionwith certain structure and architectures like the representational statetransfer (“REST”) structure that can use HTTP requests to performvarious communication operations that create data, update data, readdata, and delete data. This structure can offer a lightweightalternative to Remote Procedure Calls and Web Services (e.g., SOAP,WSDL, etc.), among other architectures that are used by conventionaldata exchange techniques, particularly with respect to diagnostic datafrom, or about, valve assemblies found on a process line. Thislightweight structure can simplify the calls and data requests andoutputs that are generated in response to the calls. Device diagnosticsand related data management for valve assemblies can benefit from thisstructure because the HTTP requests significantly reduce the coding andother tasks necessary to implement the REST structure for use withdiagnostic data.

With continued reference also to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 shows a flowdiagram of a method 300 that can configure the terminal 104 to generateand exchange data (also, “device data”) with the server 102. The devicedata may be used to populate the device identifying data 128, 130 in theentries of the asset database 118. When implemented as part of thesystem 100 (FIG. 1), the stages of the method 300 may be implemented assecond executable instructions that configure the terminal 104 toperform certain processes to facilitate these features. In oneimplementation, one or more of the second executable instructions mayreside on the terminal 104 as a native application (or “app”) to providethe user interface; although this disclosure does contemplate that some,or all, of the second executable instruction may reside remote from theterminal 104. In another implementation, the second executableinstructions may configure the sever 102 and/or terminal 104 to providethe user interface as part of a web browser.

The method 300 can include, at stage 302, generating a first userinterface that configures a display on a second computing device 104 tocapture a first image 106 of a subject valve assembly 136. The method300 may also include, at stage 304, generating a second user interfacethat configures the display on the second computing device 104 toreceive device data that relates to the subject valve assembly 136. Themethod 300 can further include, at stage 306, generating a second outputthat includes data that relates to the first image 106, the secondoutput configured for transmission over a network 108 for use on thefirst computing device 102. In one embodiment, the method 300 can alsoinclude, at stage 308, transmitting the output to the network 108.

At stage 302, the terminal 104 can capture the image 106. The first userinterface may provide a variety of tools for the end user to operate acamera (or like configured device) found on the terminal 104. Subsequentto capture of the image, at stage 304, the terminal 104 can receivedata, for example, from direct and/or manual entry by the end user. Thesecond user interface may configure the display with one or more screensthat allow manual entry, e.g., via keyboard and/or selectable icons, ofinformation by the end user that is associated with the image 106 andthe subject valve assembly 136 pictured therein. The information maydescribe the subject valve assembly 136 including its location, physicaland/or operable conditions at the time the end user captures the image106, and the like. In one implementation, the method 300 may includestages that configure the terminal 104 to also associate the image 106with GPS information, time/date information, and other information thatis readily accessible on and/or by the terminal 104 and that can addcontext to the image 106. At stages 306 and 308, the terminal 104 cangenerate the output and/or data package with the device data andtransmit the output for use at the sever 102. The device data caninclude the image 106 as well as the device data that is captured andprocessed at the screens of the second user interface.

With reference also to FIGS. 1 and 4, FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram of amethod 400 that can configure the server 102 to populate the entries inthe asset database 118 with the device data found in the package fromthe terminal 104. As noted above, the server 102 may be required towrite data to the asset database 102 should no match between the firstimage 106 and the second image 126 is found during initial processing ofthe first image 106. In the present example of FIG. 5, the method 400can include, at stage 402, receiving a data package comprising devicedata at a first computing device. The method 400 can also include, atstage 404, extracting first image data from the data package, the firstimage data defining the content of the first image 106. The method 400can further include, at stage 406, determining a match that relatescontent in the first image with content in the second image. Adiscussion of examples of the match is found above in context of FIG. 3.In one implementation, the method 400 can include, at stage 408,creating a new entry in the asset database in response to an absence ofthe match, the new entry corresponding with the subject valve assembly136 of the first image 106 and, at stage 410, writing data into theasset database 118 at the new entry, the data comprising the first imagedata and one or more pieces of device data as the valve identifyingdata. The written data may describe and/or relate to thepreviously-acquired image 126 of the subject valve assembly 136, themetadata, and one or more pieces of device data that is provided, e.g.,by the end user at the terminal 104 as discussed above.

FIG. 6 depicts a flow diagram of a method 500 that configures theterminal 104 to receive and display data about the subject valveassembly 136. The method 500 can include, at stage 502, receiving datafrom a first computing device 102 comprising device identifying datathat relates to an image 106 captured by a second computing device of asubject valve assembly 136. The method 500 can also include, at stage504, processing the data and, at stage 506, generating a third userinterface on the display of the second computing device that conveys thedevice identifying data to the end user. Examples of the third userinterface may be configured in a variety of ways, one or more of whichmay convey the identity of the subject valve assembly 136 to the enduser. These configurations may also include diagnostic data in the formof trend graphs and/or other graphical representations. As noted above,the third user interface may resolve on a web browser, although otherimplementations may use a native app that can generate displays usingtechnology that does not require and/or utilize web browser technology.

FIGS. 7 and 8 depict an example of the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116(FIG. 7) and the system 100 (FIG. 8). These examples are useful toregulate process fluids in industrial process lines typical ofindustries that focus on chemical production, refining production, andresource extraction. FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of the exemplaryvalve assembly. FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of the valveassembly 10 as part of a process control system.

In FIG. 7, the exemplary valve assembly can include a fluid coupling 148with a body 150 that has a first inlet/outlet 152 and a secondinlet/outlet 154. The exemplary valve assembly can also have an actuator156 that couples with a valve stem 158. The exemplary valve assembly canfurther include a valve positioner 160 that can regulate instrument gasto the actuator 156. In this example, the valve stem 158 may extend intothe body 150. Inside of the body 150 and hidden from view, the fluidcoupling 148 can include components of a valve (e.g., the closuremember, the seat, etc.). These components can provide structure tomodulate a flow of process fluid Fp between the inlet/outlets 152, 154in accordance with operation of the actuator 156 by the valve positioner160.

As shown in FIG. 8, the exemplary valve assembly can include a closuremember 162 and a seat 164. The system 100 includes a network system 166that includes the network 108. Examples of the network 108 can transferdata, information, and signals by way of wired protocols (e.g., 4-20 mA,FOUNDATION® Fieldbus, HART® etc.) and/or wireless protocols, many ofwhich find use in a plant or factory automation environment. Theseprotocols can facilitate communication over the network 108 between theserver 102, the terminal 104, the valve positioner 160, a processcontroller 168 that operates the valve assemblies 112, 114, 116, and/oran external server 170. During operation, the process controller 168 canexecute one or more computer programs to deliver a command signal to thevalve positioner 160. The command signal may identify a commandedposition for the closure member 162. The valve positioner 160 can usethe commanded position to modulate the instrument gas to the actuator156 and, effectively, allow the closure member 162 to move relative tothe seat 164.

In view of the foregoing, the embodiments disclosed and contemplatedherein can deploy features that use an image of a valve assembly toprovide device identifying data that relates to the valve assembly to anend user. The embodiments can also be configured to generate an assetdatabase that is useful to identify the device identifying data,typically generated by a image capture terminal such as a smartphone ortablet. A technical effect can be to eliminate the need to rely onphysical identifiers disposed on the valve assembly and, thus, offer amore accurate modality to identify valve assemblies in the field.

Data may reside on a data source, often locally in one or more memorieson the valve positioner 160 (FIG. 7), although this disclosure alsocontemplates configurations in which data resides across components ofthe system 100 (FIGS. 1 and 8). For example, a data source may integratewith the server 102 (FIGS. 1 and 8) and/or as part of the externalserver 170 (FIG. 8). At the data source, the data may be arranged as oneor more data sets that include one or more data samples. Certain datasets may be identified by an indicator (e.g., a date stamp, a timestamp, a date/time stamp, etc.) that relates to the chronological timeat which the data samples in the data set were gathered and/or stored,e.g., in memory. For real-time use of the methods, data samples may beread into a buffer and/or like configured storage medium that allows forready access to the data samples to afford the methods withchronologically relevant data, taking into consideration necessary dataprocessing time-lag. In one embodiment, the methods may include one ormore stages for obtaining and/or retrieving the data from the datasource.

The embodiments may be implemented on any device where relevant data ispresent and/or otherwise accessible. For example, the embodiments can beimplemented as executable instructions (e.g., firmware, hardware,software, etc.), on the valve positioner. The valve positioner cantransmit the output of the embodiments to a distributed control system,asset management system, independent monitoring computing device (e.g.,a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, smartphone, mobile device,etc.). In another embodiment, the embodiments can obtain data from ahistorian (e.g., a repository, memory, etc.), and send to an independentdiagnostic computing device. The historian can be conventionallyconnected to the asset management system or distributed control system.The diagnostic computing device can have all the capabilities of themonitoring computer and, in one example, the additional capability toexecute executable instructions for the embodiment to process the givendata. In another embodiment, the valve positioner can be configured tosend data by wires or wirelessly to the diagnostic computing device, aswell as through peripheral and complimentary channels (e.g., throughintermediate devices such as a DCS or may be connected directly to thediagnostic computer).

One or more of the stages of the methods can be coded as one or moreexecutable instructions (e.g., hardware, firmware, software, softwareprograms, etc.). These executable instructions can be part of acomputer-implemented method and/or program, which can be executed by aprocessor and/or processing device. The processor may be configured toexecute these executable instructions, as well as to process inputs andto generate outputs, as set forth herein. For example, the software canrun on the process device, the diagnostics server, and/or as software,application, or other aggregation of executable instructions on aseparate computer, tablet, laptop, smart phone, wearable device, andlike computing device. These devices can display the user interface(also, a “graphical user interface”) that allows the end user tointeract with the software to view and input information and data ascontemplated herein.

The computing components (e.g., memory and processor) can embodyhardware that incorporates with other hardware (e.g., circuitry) to forma unitary and/or monolithic unit devised to execute computer programsand/or executable instructions (e.g., in the form of firmware andsoftware). Exemplary circuits of this type may include discrete elementssuch as resistors, transistors, diodes, switches, and capacitors.Examples of a processor include microprocessors and other logic devicessuch as field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”) and applicationspecific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). Memory can include volatile andnon-volatile memory and can store executable instructions in the form ofand/or including software (or firmware) instructions and configurationsettings. Although all of the discrete elements, circuits, and devicesfunction individually in a manner that is generally understood by thoseartisans that have ordinary skill in the electrical arts, it is theircombination and integration into functional electrical groups andcircuits that generally provide for the concepts that are disclosed anddescribed herein.

Aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied as a system, method,or computer program product. The embodiments may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, software, etc.) or an embodiment combining software andhardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a“circuit,” “module” or “system.” The computer program product may embodyone or more non-transitory computer readable medium(s) having computerreadable program code embodied thereon.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languageand conventional procedural programming languages. Program code embodiedon a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriatemedium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fibercable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

As used herein, an element or function recited in the singular andproceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as notexcluding plural said elements or functions, unless such exclusion isexplicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of theclaimed invention should not be interpreted as excluding the existenceof additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal language of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for conveying an identity of a valveassembly on a process line, said method comprising: receiving a firstimage of a subject valve assembly at a first computing device; using thefirst image, selecting an entry in an asset database, the entryassociating valve identifying data that relates to the subject valveassembly, the valve identifying data configured to define an identityfor the subject valve assembly; retrieving data from the selected entry;and generating an output for display on a second computing device,wherein the output is configured to convey the valve identifying datathat relates to the subject valve assembly in the first image.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: comparing the first image with asecond image that is stored in the asset database, wherein the entryassociates the valve identifying data with the second image of thesubject valve assembly.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selectedentry reflects a match that relates content in the first image withcontent in the second image.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: identifying a first feature of interest and a second featureof interest, one each defining a first subset of the content in thefirst image and a second subset of content in the second image,respectively; and comparing the first feature of interest and the secondfeature of interest, wherein the match relates the first subset of thecontent of the first feature of interest with the second subset of thecontent of the second feature of interest.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein each of the first subset of the content of the first feature ofinterest and the second subset of the content of the second feature ofinterest comprises background structure proximate the subject valveassembly in the first image and the second image.
 6. The method of claim4, further comprising: comparing first metadata describing the firstsubset of content of the first feature of interest to second metadata inthe asset database describing the second subset of content of the secondfeature of interest, wherein the match relates the first metadata withthe second metadata.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:extracting first image data from a data package, the first image datadefining the content of the first image, wherein the data packageincludes the first image data and device data that identifies a locationfor the subject valve assembly.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising: comparing the first image data to second image data definingthe content of the second image in the asset database.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising: determining the match; creating a new entryin the asset database in response to an absence of the match, the newentry corresponding to the subject valve assembly of the first image;and writing data into the asset database at the new entry, the datacomprising the first image data and one or more pieces of device data asthe valve identifying data.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein theidentity distinguishes the subject valve assembly from another valveassembly on a process line.
 11. A system, comprising: a first computingdevice comprising a processor with access to memory having firstexecutable instructions stored thereon, the first executableinstructions comprising one or more instructions for, receiving a firstimage of a subject valve assembly; comparing the first image to a secondimage of the subject valve assembly that is stored in an asset database,the entry associating the second image of the subject valve assembly tovalve identifying data that relates to the subject valve assembly andconfigured to define an identity for the subject valve assembly;selecting an entry in the asset database, the selected entry reflectinga match that relates content in the first image with content in thesecond image; retrieving the valve identifying data from the selectedentry; and generating a first output comprising the valve identifyingdata for display.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: asecond computing device comprising a processor with access to memoryhaving second executable instructions stored thereon, the secondexecutable instructions comprising one or more instructions for,configuring a display in response to the first output, the displayconfigured to display the identity of the subject valve assembly. 13.The system of claim 12, wherein the second executable instructionscomprise one or more instruction for, generating a first user interfacethat configures the display on the second computing device to capturethe first image; generating a second user interface that configures thedisplay on the second computing device to receive device data thatrelates to the subject valve assembly; and generating a second outputthat includes data that relates to the first image for transmission overa network for use on the first computing device.
 14. The system of claim13, wherein the second executable instructions comprise one or moreinstructions for, generating a third user interface on the display thatconveys the valve identifying data.
 15. The system of claim 14, whereinthe third user interface is configured to display diagnostic data thatrelates to operation of the device.
 16. The system of claim 12, whereinthe second executable instructions comprising one or more instructionsfor, determining the match; creating a new entry in the asset databasein response to an absence of the match, the new entry corresponding tothe subject valve assembly of the first image; and writing data into theasset database at the new entry, the data comprising the first imagedata and one or more pieces of device data as the valve identifying data17. A database system for identifying valve assemblies on a processline, said database system comprising: a first data structure comprisingone or more entries, each of the one or more entries comprising apreviously-acquired image of a subject valve assembly and valveidentifying data that is configured to define an identity for thesubject valve assembly.
 18. The database system of claim 17, whereineach of the one or more entries comprise metadata that defines contentof the previously-acquired image.
 19. The database structure of claim18, wherein the metadata defines a subset of content of thepreviously-acquired image.
 20. The database structure of claim 19,wherein the subset of the content of the previously-acquired imagecomprises background structure proximate the subject valve assembly inthe previously-acquired image.